Nokia Takes on Rokr with New Music Phone

NewsFactor Network writes about the new Nokia 3250, the company's first music phone and answer to the over-hyped Motorola Rokr. The GSM handset has a unique base that can twist to transform its telephone keypad into song-control keys and has a memory capacity of up to 1GB on microSD memory cards.

The cell phone will run Windows Media music player and is capable of over the air downloads. David Linsalata at IDC said, "Handset makers have an opportunity to gain ground in the digital music area because people typically take their phones everywhere." He noted that although it wouldn't replace digital music players, "consumers could be drawn by access to music if manufacturers and carriers break down perceptions of the phone as a communications-only device."

In WhatPC?, Gerry Purdy at MobileTrax said, "I'm very positive about the fact that we see a lot of phone developers incorporate music and thereby give the iPod a run for its money."

Purdy notes the 3250's maximum 1GB storage capacity via a microSD memory card that Nolkia claims can hold 750 songs is a distinct advantage over the Rokr's 512MB miniSD card that is capped at 100 songs. "That is a limiting factor that needs to be relieved," said Purdy.